As a dressmaker, I know only too well that no matter how beautifully I sew a garment, if I wear it over unsupportive, unflattering, poorly fitting underwear it's just not going to show that garment off at it's best.

This is something I never tire of reminding my clients when I am teaching.

I teach a bodice fitting class at Ministry of Craft and I always stress there, the importance of a well fitting bra, and how certain styles of bra will affect various bodice designs....for example I know that if I fit a bodice over a sports bra, that bodice will certainly not work over a balconette style, on the same woman!

As a woman of ample boobage since the age of 13, I've certainly made some terrible mistakes over the years; like the time when aged about 14, I was at a friends house on a hot summers day and she suggested we sunbathe in the garden. I hadn't got a bikini so she loaned me one of hers. I put it on and walked through her kitchen to meet her in the garden where her mother caught sight of me and thrust a tea towel at me in a crude attempt to offer me some modesty! I was, until that moment quite blissfully unaware of my curves and the bikini top only just covered my nipples!

Over the years, since that incident and, I'm sorry to say, several others I have gained a reputation amongst many of my closest friends as someone who knows a thing or two about bra fitting, and have accompanied several friends on bra shopping sprees, where they are usually surprised that their back size is considerably smaller than they thought, and their cup size considerably bigger!

A good fitting bra is only the beginning; an essential beginning, but certainly for me, I can't sing the praises of shape wear enough! Six babies ( and honestly, too many biscuits!) have not been kind to my mid section! Now, I'm certainly not saying everyone with a bit of wobble in their tum should absolutely wear shape wear, seriously guys, wear what makes you comfortable...I'm all about the feeling good in your own skin, but that for me means shape wear, and I've tried them all, trust me!

I had a spell a few years ago of wearing steel boned corsets daily, and then I got gall stones, so my corsets got packed away....they still come out occasionally, just no longer daily.

I have tried latex sports corsets too, and they have their place, so long as you don't mind getting very sweaty!

My favourite everyday shape wear though is a "wear your own bra" type. These generally come in various strengths of support, and for everyday I have light support. The beauty of these is you can wear your own bra, and anyone who has a cup size over a D will understand this....please lingerie makers make pretty corselettes in bigger cup sizes!!!

They give a nice smooth line under any garment with a touch of tummy control. I even have a few that smooth out the dreaded back fat!

And, you can wear them under your most precious corsets to protect from sweat, but still be able to go to the loo, thanks to popper opening!! (Is that TMI?)

So, always wary of offering advice, I would say to anyone, but especially aspiring dressmakers, get the foundation right,( whatever that means for you) and your finished garments will be shown off to their very best.

Of course, there is always making your own.....that though is for another day!

Yeah, I know it's already 12th January! My children didn't finish school and college until 23rd December, which means they only went back to school and college on Monday...is it really only four days ago? Why am I so tired?
Poor Eden had to go back to college on her birthday! She was less than impressed to say the least. I now have two adult children, since Eden turned 18 on Monday! It's a strange feeling.
Christmas was quiet (well as quiet as it gets around here!), and I did a lot of cosying up on the sofa, a bit of crocheting, but not a lot of anything else, which felt good. In fact so good I'm finding it rather hard to get back into the normal routine. Grey January skies certainly don't help.

I've been working on updating my wardrobe with clothes that feel good lately. I designed this dress to wear to our WI Christmas party. The bodice is princess line, and the skirt is full circle with extra panels and box pleats at the hips. The fabric is a waxed cotton. The dress uses a full 6 metres of fabric, most of which is in the skirt! I am also wearing a full petticoat in these photos and a store bought bow belt.
This feels fab on, really swishy and feminine. I love it! Of course as usual I want to tweak certain things.( but that's for another post)

I used the same pattern to make this dress. This time the bodice is lace underlined with black jersey for the main bodice, sleeves just lace and the skirt is made with some gorgeous vintage pinstripe suiting.
Again worn over a petticoat and with a belt.

I put in an exposed zip this time to juzz it up a bit. I think this is the least successful of the two dresses, but it will be a good addition to my work wardrobe.

I'm trying very hard right now to stay body positive while writing this. The reason I need to update my wardrobe is quite simply that nothing much in my existing wardrobe fits me anymore. I could easily (too easily) sit here and write an entire blog post about every flaw I can see when looking at these photos, but I wont.